Unbroken Vows

Prologue

The bustling streets of Bangkok glimmered in the late afternoon light, casting long shadows as the day neared its end. Mew stared out from the window of their cozy apartment, watching the city below hum with life. It had been three years since he and Tul had defied their families, standing against tradition and culture, and chose love above all else. They had built a life together despite the odds-but today, it felt like it was unraveling.

The argument had started small, as they usually do. It was their third anniversary, a day meant to celebrate love and survival, but the weight of unhealed wounds hung between them. Mew's family still hadn't forgiven him. Tul's parents, too, refused to acknowledge their union. The years had been hard, but today, it seemed harder than ever.

Tul's voice broke through the silence. "Mew, can't you see? We've been fighting for so long. I don't know if I have any fight left in me."

Mew turned, his face shadowed with frustration. "And what, Tul? You think I don't feel the same? You think I wanted this distance between us? But we knew what we were getting into. We knew it wouldn't be easy."

"But I didn't think it would be this hard. Every time I see my parents, they look at me like I've betrayed them. Like I've thrown away everything they hoped for me."

Mew's heart clenched. He had heard those words from his own parents so many times, their disappointment like a scar that refused to heal. But the idea of Tul giving up-giving up on them-felt like a knife to the chest.

"I need some time," Mew said, his voice cold as he turned away, grabbing his keys. "I'm going back to my family's house. I need to clear my head."

Tul didn't stop him.

---

The familiar walls of Mew's family home didn't bring the comfort they once did. His mother greeted him with her usual forced smile, and his father barely acknowledged his presence. Mew sat in silence over dinner, the unspoken tension between them thick enough to suffocate him.

"We've missed you, Mew," his mother said softly, though there was a coldness in her eyes. "It's been too long. You should come home more often."

"I have my own home," Mew responded, the bitterness seeping into his words.

His father finally spoke, his tone sharp. "That apartment you share with Tul is not a home. It's a delusion, Mew. And we're tired of watching you ruin your life."

Mew's chest tightened, but he didn't respond. He was too drained to fight back.

That night, as Mew lay in the guest room, staring at the ceiling, his parents were in the next room, whispering. They had always hoped he would come back, would return to the life they had envisioned for him. And now, they saw their chance.

---

Mew hadn't spoken to Tul in days. They both needed space, needed to think, but every moment apart only made Mew more anxious. His phone buzzed, and when he saw Tul's name flash on the screen, relief flooded him. He answered quickly.

"Mew," Tul's voice was soft, strained, as though something weighed heavy on him. "Can we talk? I want to fix this."

Mew exhaled, his heart aching. "Yeah. I'll come by."

They agreed to meet at their favorite café, the place they had first met, where so much of their relationship had bloomed. But as Mew left his family home, he didn't see his father's cold gaze following him.

His parents had made a decision, one they believed was in his best interest. If Mew and Tul wouldn't end their relationship on their own, then they would do it for them.

---

The accident was planned with precision. Mew never saw it coming as his car was struck from the side by an oncoming vehicle. Tul, who had been on his way to meet Mew, was caught in a similar collision just a few blocks away.

When they awoke, days later, in separate hospitals, their memories were gone.

---

Mew sat up in his hospital bed, blinking at the sterile white walls. There was a dull ache in his head, and when he looked around, nothing felt familiar. His parents were by his side, their faces filled with concern.

"Mew," his mother whispered, her voice trembling with relief. "You're awake."

"Who... where am I?" Mew asked, confusion clouding his mind. His memories were fragmented, disjointed. He couldn't remember how he'd ended up here, or why his heart felt hollow.

"You had an accident," his father said gently. "But you're going to be fine. Everything will be fine now."

Tul woke up in a similar state of confusion. He couldn't remember Mew, couldn't remember their life together. His parents were there, soothing him, telling him everything would be okay. That he could start fresh.

For weeks, they remained separated, each struggling to piece together their shattered lives. Mew knew something was missing, something important, but he couldn't grasp what. Tul felt the same emptiness, a void he couldn't explain.

To Be Continued